The 48th Istanbul Marathon once again lived up to its billing as the only race on the planet that crosses between two continents, and this year it produced a record for the history books. Kenya's Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba won the elite men's race in 2:08:44, shaving a full minute off the course record Kenya's Daniel Kibet had held since 2019. It was Kipchumba's second racing trip to Istanbul — he ran a half-marathon here back in 2020, finishing in around 62 to 64 minutes — and he credited a late surge for the win, holding off Ethiopia's Sufaro Woliyi Kebeto and Kenya's Vincent Kipyegon Ronoh.

The women's podium told a different story: a clean sweep for Ethiopia. Kasanesh Ayenew Baze, in only the fifth marathon of her career, took the title in 2:24.40, just seven seconds ahead of compatriot Azmera Abreha Gdey, with Diribe Hirko Alemu completing the Ethiopian sweep. The top three women finished within 20 seconds of each other, making for one of the closest finishes in recent editions. Baze said she now has Olympic ambitions, a goal echoed by Türkiye's top finisher Hüseyin Can, who placed 11th in 2:17.53 after targeting a top-three spot before the fast pace and conditions forced him to ease off. Can has been the leading Turkish runner here nearly every year since 2019.

What makes this race special for runners and spectators alike is the course itself. Organised by Spor Istanbul under the city's metropolitan municipality, the marathon starts on the Asian side, 250 metres behind the July 15 Martyrs Bridge, crosses the Bosporus into Europe, and finishes at Sultanahmet Square in the heart of the old city. That means runners pass from one continent to another before banking views of Istanbul's most famous historic quarter — few races anywhere can offer that.

The event has deep roots: it began life as the Asia-Europe Run on April 1, 1979, became the Intercontinental Eurasia Marathon, and took its current name in 2013. It's also growing fast. Turkish Athletics Federation president Ahmet Karadağ confirmed that participation exceeded 8,400 for the first time this year, up from 5,900 in 2025, with foreign diplomats among those at the start line. Organisers are keen to keep building the race's international profile.

For travellers, the takeaway is that the Istanbul Marathon has matured into a genuine bucket-list running event. Whether you're chasing a personal best on a fast, flat, point-to-point course or simply want an excuse to visit one of the world's great cities in autumn, the combination of a two-continent route and a finish beside the Blue Mosque is hard to beat. Entries typically include shorter distances too, so casual runners can join in. If a autumn city break with a sporting twist appeals, keep an eye on the November race date and register early — the field is filling up fast.

Story via Daily Sabah Travel.